Cape Farewell Walk

Cape Farewell Walk

Farewell Spit & Puponga Farm Park

45 Rankers Reviews

44 Face-to-Face

Your Nature Guide

Marios Gavalas's avatar

Marios Gavalas

Author And Researcher

Nau mai, haere mai

Nau mai, haere mai

I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.

I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!

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Photos

Shear coastal cliffs - Cape Farewell

Information

Cape Farewell Walk

400 m return | 10 minutes return

Quite the viewpoint. Especially as it’s only a short walk from your vehicle.

Walking Track

Access

4.5 km from Puponga, turn right before the cattle-stop, drive through the farm gate (open it first) past a woolshed to the car park at the end.

Track

The 4WD track leads through paddocks to the lookout at the top.

Stay away from the cliff edge. Please leave the farm gates as you find them.

Stay away from seals and be careful along the ridge tops if it's windy.

Mountain biking is allowed along some of these tracks.

Geology

This is a late Cretaceous sandstone coast, where you can see the wind in the cliffs. Etchings of wind-fuelled fury are scratched into the soft rock.

European History

The name came from Captain Cook, who left New Zealand shores here in 1770.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

DOC Nelson/Tasman

Central government organisation

Location

South IslandNelson RegionGolden Bay

Categories

  • Activity__walking_and_trekkingWalking
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-40.5190191710828

172.724304199219

Latitude
-40.5190191710828
Longitude
172.724304199219

Nearby

Reviews

    • Fantastic dunes, great landscape.
    • Nice walk along a huge, wild beach.
    • Sand was soft and the beach was beautiful.
    • Favourite place in New Zealand.
    • Simply WOW!
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 18
    40%
    9/10 10
    22%
    8/10 13
    29%
    7/10 1
    2%
    6/10 2
    4%
    5/10 0
    0%
    4/10 1
    2%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 4.5/5

    Really strong wind, actually increased the atmosphere.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 5.0/5

    Awesome atmosphere, very windy but great.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 4.0/5

    Nice walk along a huge, wild beach.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

  • 4.5/5

    Fantastic dunes, great landscape.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 4.0/5

    We visited on an incredibly stormy day - however it was EXHILARATING!

    Short, easy walk to the lookout and beyond, but watch out for sheep poo!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Lovely views over the beaches and the mountains and across the sea.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 4.0/5

    There is a nice walk to the beach, where you can see the dunes.

    It is not too far and very easy.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Got to see a seal lazily swimming in the cove by the cape.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Awesome nature reserve.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in April 2016

  • 5.0/5

    There is the beautiful beach I have ever seen before and there are seal pups and they are soooo sweet.

    My favourite place yet.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Awesome track!

    The view and the cliffs are amazing.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 3.0/5

    Sand was soft and the beach was beautiful.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Really strong wind, actually increased the atmosphere.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 5.0/5

    Awesome atmosphere, very windy but great.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 4.5/5

    Fantastic dunes, great landscape.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 4.0/5

    Nice walk along a huge, wild beach.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

  • 4.0/5

    We visited on an incredibly stormy day - however it was EXHILARATING!

    Short, easy walk to the lookout and beyond, but watch out for sheep poo!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

  • 4.0/5

    There is a nice walk to the beach, where you can see the dunes.

    It is not too far and very easy.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Lovely views over the beaches and the mountains and across the sea.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Awesome nature reserve.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in April 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Got to see a seal lazily swimming in the cove by the cape.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in November 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Awesome track!

    The view and the cliffs are amazing.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    There is the beautiful beach I have ever seen before and there are seal pups and they are soooo sweet.

    My favourite place yet.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 4.5/5

    The walkway leads you to huge sand dunes that make you feel like you are walking through a desert!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Simply WOW!

    After walking along the beach we reached the sand dunes located in the middle of the Cape. Amazing! We just felt like we were placed in a desert. Only difference: we had the sea next to us.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Lots of different landscapes with a lot of paths to take depending on the time that you want to walk.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Favourite place in New Zealand.

    A bit of a long walk at the end but great scenery.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Beautiful landscape, a lot of birds, beautiful sand dunes.

    We went there early so we were alone almost all of the walk.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Unique, definitely worth to see it.

    If you are in this area then you have to visit this amazing place.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Unique spot at the end of the land, beautiful bay views, endless walking and the most precious sand dunes we have seen so far.

    Another must see.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 3.0/5

    Sand was soft and the beach was beautiful.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Gorgeous walk, seals were chilling.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Amazing landscape.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Track along the beach, lots of birds.

    Amazing sand dunes, everywhere. But it is really hard on a sunny/hot day. There is no shade.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 4.5/5

    At a dead end of the island so many miss it - highly recommended.

    Very quiet and incredible beach with great views out across the Spit. Check out the cliffs too.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Awesome, seals everywhere, perfect trails, just really, really windy so be ready!

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    The hike to Farewell Spit was amazing, really incredible landscapes especially the dunes at the end.

    Cape Farewell was beautiful as well with lots of possibilities to walk.

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Awesome view, nice walk between beach and sheep field, seal watching.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 4.0/5

    You do not have to walk a lot and you can see amazing beaches.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014

  • 2.0/5

    Meh.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014

  • 3.5/5

    Feel like you are in a small desert surrounded by water, amazing experience,

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

  • 5.0/5

    Great walk on the spit, beautiful lookout and scenery, huge space of sand.

    Good place to visit.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014